Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee: An Epically Short History of Our Kings and Queens

by Charlie Higson, Jim Moir (Illustrator)

The first non-fiction book from the comedy legend – an irresistible, family-friendly deep dive into the murky lives of the British monarchy

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee, Harry, Dick, John, Harry three. One, two, three Neds, Richard Two, Henries, four, five, six, then who? Charlie Higson has always been interested in the story of the fabled English from the b*stardly to the benevolent, brilliant to the brutal. In this wonderful new book, with the famous rhyme he learned at school as his trusty guide, Charlie takes the plunge into the storied history of this most treasured of institutions – introducing readers to every single ruler since poor Harold was shot in the eye at the Battle of Hastings. Bloody treachery? Check. Unruly incest? Check. Short parliaments? Check. A couple of Cromwells? Check.

A rip-roaring journey that takes in the Normans, Stuarts and Tudors, not to mention the infamous Blois (how can we forget them?), Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee is an utterly engrossing and grossly entertaining primer on who ruled when and why.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Humor, Audiobook, Historical

432 pages, Hardcover

Published October 9, 2025

About the author

Higson was educated at Sevenoaks School and at the University of East Anglia (where his brother has taught since 1986 and is now a professor of film studies) where he met Paul Whitehouse, David Cummings and Terry Edwards. Higson, Cummings and Edwards formed the band The Higsons of which Higson was the lead singer from 1980 to 1986. They released two singles on the Specials' 2-Tone label. Higson then became a plasterer before he turned to writing for Harry Enfield with Paul Whitehouse and performing comedy. He came to public attention as one of the main writers and performers of the BBC Two sketch show The Fast Show (1994-2000). He worked with Whitehouse on the radio comedy Down the Line and is to work with him again on a television project, designed to be a spoof of celebrity travel programmes.[1:]

He worked as producer, writer, director and occasional guest star on Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) from 2000 to 2001. Subsequent television work has included writing and starring in BBC Three's Fast Show spin-off sitcom Swiss Toni. He is currently starring in Tittybangbang series 3 on BBC Three and has appeared as a panellist on QI.

He published four novels through the early to mid 1990s which take a slightly dystopian look at everyday life and have a considerably more adult tone than his other work, with characters on the margins of society finding themselves spiraling out of control, leading him to be described by Time Out as 'The missing link between Dick Emery and Brett Easton Ellis' [2:]

In 2004, it was announced that Higson would pen a series of James Bond novels, aimed at younger readers and concentrating on the character's school-days at Eton. Higson was himself educated at Sevenoaks School where he was a contemporary of Jonathan Evans, current Director General of MI5. The first novel, SilverFin, was released on 3 March 2005 in the UK and on 27 April 2005 in the U.S. A second novel, Blood Fever, was released on 5 January 2006 in the UK and 1 June in the U.S. The third novel, Double or Die, was published on 4 January 2007 having had its title announced the day before. The next, Hurricane Gold, came out in hardcover in the UK in September 2007.[3:]In this year he also made a debut performance on the panel show QI. His final Young Bond novel, By Royal Command, was released in hardcover in the UK on the 3 September 2008.[4:]

Charlie has signed a deal to pen a new series of children's books for Puffin. According to the author, "They are going to be action adventures, but with a horror angle

Reviews

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the British royalty is one of those subjects that we think we know but when it actually comes down to even broad strokes, we don't really remember very much at all.

In this book - named for the rhyme (that I was never taught at school) to be used to remember all the monarchs since William I.
There was lots of information that I didn't know but the overall impression is that the royals are just as plagued with deeply flawed characters in their families as the rest of us.

It did surprise me that there was actually some kind of charter regarding how royals should behave - I presume to cut down on the mistresses, illegitimate children, partying etc etc (This has clearly failed with Andrew). And it made me wonder why we should expect them to be any better behaved than we?

In this book Charlie Higson takes a semi-lighthearted look at the lives, loves and reigns of all our monarchs up to Charlie 3. It's funny in parts, interesting all the way through and the illustrations are -- let's say "warts and all". All in all, a really great read.

Thankyou to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Non Fiction for the advance review copy.

[Daniel W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Higson has managed to make a huge period of history, with various very complicated subjects, both easily understandable and entertaining - a really difficult thing to achieve. I love the history of the monarchy and I definitely learned some new things from reading this book (though I admit I am biased … which is why I’ve just got to rate it five stars!)

[Anne Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This file was corrupted on download. I received an email from the publishers. From what I did read , this would be a great intro to British history or a reference book for children and for that I give it 5*. It’s written in a very chatty style not stuffy at all.

[Chris Chanona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It made the history of Kings and Queens funny, enjoyable, and best of all very comprehensible. I enjoyed how many died of an exploding stomach or an exploding brain. Charlie Higson makes it a very easy read. I expected to skim through some of it, but found myself reading every entry. I’m not sure I will remember the order of Kings and Queens any better but felt I’d grasped it as I read.

He explained the basics of what happened in each monarch’s reign in simple language which amused as well as informed. I will return to this book whenever I need to revise on a particular monarch.

I thoroughly recommend this book and the illustrations by Jim Moir were very appropriate. I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short romp through 1000 years of British history with a focus on every monarch that has ruled (plus a few that haven't). It's irreverent and fun but actually based on a lot of good history. At times I found the humour a little puerile but overall its grounded in research and knowledge which redeems it and makes it a strong 'popular' history book.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw Charlie Higson on tv talking about this book and having always been interested in monarchy and its history, I thought I’d give a go. First of all I don’t think this is a children’s book, second it is funny in places. Especially with some of the comparisons to today’s politics.

It starts with William the Conqueror and the circumstances around him conquering Britain and ends with Charles the third. He puts to bed some of the myths surrounding some of the monarchs, especially Queen Anne!

I know Jim Moir ( Vic Reeves) is an artist and I suspect that the drawings are probably better in a tree book than on my iPad.

The one fact that I seem to have come away from this book is that George V had tattoos…..possibly what is more comparable to today’s sleeves! Who would have thought that of a king who seems to have the reputation for being boring!!

[FaithfulReviewer (Jacqueline) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, Nonfiction | Mudlark, the author and NetGalley for a DRC in return for an honest review. I also enjoyed listening to the audiobook read magnificently by the author, Charlie Higson

Unfortunately, I’m one of those people who was never taught the famous rhyme that cleverly lists all the Kings and Queens of Britain - though when our son was a child, we did delight in listening to the Horrible Histories version!

This is a fantastically engaging history book, presented in a light-hearted, witty way. It’s ideal for children (and adults!) who want to learn everything there is to know about British royalty, right from the very beginning through to Charles III - complete with the grisly bits, all told with a subtle comedic edge.

The illustrations by Jim Moir (better known as Vic Reeves) are outstanding - who knew he was such a talented artist? I only wish there had been a few more included.

This book is bursting with fascinating facts, some you might already know and some that will absolutely surprise you.

For example, a disturbing number of monarchs apparently met their end due to exploding brains or stomachs and while I knew there was plenty of inbreeding in the Royal Family, I was shocked by just how extensive it truly was! There are also some brilliant historical nuggets - such as the original Poll Tax (turns out Margaret Thatcher didn’t invent that one) and the story of Sir Robert Walpole, who in 1721 became the First Lord of the Treasury. The term 'Prime Minister' wasn’t an official title at first - it actually began as a sneer, coined by political opponents and the press, mocking Walpole for acting as if he were above the King and other ministers. Ironically, over time that insult evolved into the official title we still use today! However, the original title is immortalised on the brass plate that adorns the famous black door of 10 Downing Street - the British PM's official residence.

If you want to explore all the quirks, scandals and eccentricities of the British monarchy, I wholeheartedly recommend this book - don’t delay, read it now!

#CharlieHigson #WillieWillieHarryStee #NetGalley

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m reviewing this mid listen as I’m absolutely loving it but it’s very long and, as it’s so easy to dip in and out of, I’m listening to it in between other audiobooks so it’s going to take a while to finish it.

I love Charlie Higson’s narration. It’s so easy to listen to, very entertaining and enthralling. And of course the subject matter is fascinating. There are many occasions when I have laughed out loud.

I would love a copy of the physical book as I imagine the illustrations will add to the enjoyment.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for an advance audio copy.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a very pleasant surprise and I was honestly expecting it to be a little underwhelming and too similar to David Mitchell's Unruly, but what a thoroughly enjoyable romp between 1000 years of English/British Monarchs.

Very readable and approachable and full of humour and interest. Is it clonclusive or detailed? No but there is enough for each Monarch to get a lot out of this book. Even the boring ones or who did little of note.

It is a book I would love to read again and I loved the illustrations by Jim Moir (Vic Reeves), especially the one of Wat Tyler and Richard II, and the one of Simon de Montfort with his balls on his nose!

Highly recommend this book.

[Martin Southard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee is an absolute delight. Higson manages to condense the tangled history of Britain’s monarchs into something lively, witty and genuinely engaging. Each reign is sketched with enough detail to give you the flavour, but never so much that it drags. The humour never feels forced, and it’s clear Higson has real affection for the material, even when he’s pointing out the absurdities. Jim Moir’s illustrations are a perfect match, giving the book extra character. It’s not just entertaining — it’s surprisingly informative, too. A brilliant read for history fans and casual readers alike. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for providing this advanced copy

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, thank you very much to HarperCollins UK Audio, and Charlie Higson for the opportunity to listen to the audio arc of Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee in exchange for an honest review!

This book brought me right back to high school history class (my favourite class) and I absolutely loved it. With regard to the audiobook itself, the quality was great and the narration was incredibly entertaining. It is a common stereotype that history can be boring and flat but I think that Charlie Higson did a fantastic job at making what can feel like a long boring textbook read, feel like a fresh humorous recounter of the British monarchy from the very beginning to current day. It was easy to follow, and I felt myself eager to continue listening.

Although I listened to this book, I also think that a physical read of this book would be incredibly enjoyable and I will absolutely be adding this to my collection.

Thank you again for the opportunity to listen!

[Julie Friar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A journey through time of our Monarchy. Charlie Higson wrote and narrated this book based on a rhyme he learned at school. The book covers the Norman’s, Plantagenets, Tudors, Stuarts, Hanoverians and Windsors. A very entertaining guide to who was who, when and what they are remembered for.

Very well written and well narrated by the author (I listened to the audiobook). Excellent tales of our monarchy. Informative, entertaining, plenty of treachery, imcest, war and invasions. Good fun.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable, very easy to read, and it made me laugh throughout. In fact, a week later, I'm still laughing at Thomas Becket being twatted on the head with a sword.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply wonderful! This hugely entertaining book provides unique context to the many historical events that most of us non-historians have gleaned a little knowledge of here and there.

Charlie Higson covers a lot of ground in an approachable way, making it funny and very easy to read. I learned a lot and laughed even more. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Mudlark and the author for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Lydia Omodara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee offers a concise, clear history of the British monarchy (the umbrella term the author uses to refer to the rulers of England, England and Wales, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - oh and parts of France at various times.)

As with all good history books covering an extended period of time, the author provides a lucid chronology which demonstrates how the events of one monarch's reign had consequences which reverberated down the centuries, such as the mortality rate of the Black Death necessitating a restructuring of the social hierarchy as well as undermining the power and prestige of the church when priests died as much as anyone else - if they didn't, in fact, have a special relationship with God which afforded them protection from worldly pains, then why were they treated as his earthly incarnations? Although the religious beliefs - or at least affiliations - of the Tudor monarchs are well-known, it was fascinating to see how the monarchy's - and the nation's - relationship with religion changed and evolved over centuries, from William the Conqueror's claim being bolstered by papal approval to Catholics being legally barred from acceding the throne by the 17th century. Similarly, the waxing and waning of the concept of an absolute monarchy is far more interesting to watch play out over hundreds of years than in a series of History lessons focusing on the English Civil War in isolation. Higson adeptly joins the dots of concessions to democracy - from the oft-cited but largely ineffective Magna Carta in 1215, through a brief 17th century experiment with republicanism and the subsequent gradual devolution of power from Crown to Parliament, allowing the reader to see clearly how we arrived at our current constitutional monarchy - beloved by some, barely tolerated by others, but decidedly politically pointless.

Higson also highlights patterns which repeat throughout history, including the monarch falling foul of the aristocracy by bestowing favour on jumped-up young upstarts, the popularity boost which inevitably follows a failed assassination attempt, and the awful human tendency to turn on those perceived as outsiders when times are hard. It is fascinating to see how the traits prized in a monarch have shifted in some ways (jingoism and successful wars with the French don't accrue the kudos they once did) but not in others - it seems the main thing most subjects want, regardless of their own social status, is stability.

The massive chronological scope of the book also contextualises events and eras which I've never fully understood the provenance or full story of, such as the presumed murders of the Princes in the Tower and reasons for the Young Pretender Bonnie Prince Charlie's conviction in his claim on the English throne. Higson's writing is accessible without being patronising; he doesn't assume that the reader will have much of a knowledge of the subject but those who do should still find the writing style engaging and the storytelling compelling.

In the latter half of the book particularly - presumably thanks to personal primary source material being more readily available - Higson vividly captures the personalities of these seemingly unknowable figures, inferring from their actions and remarks they made what was important to them and what was absolutely not, how they felt about their 'divinely bestowed' role and what they saw as their duty. There's a sweet spot around the Georgians where it feels like Higson has the candid detail with which to embellish the facts and yet does not seem constrained by not wanting to offend the still-living relatives of the monarch in question - Elizabeth II's chapter is particularly bland in comparison.

I will say that, although Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee is very readable and entertaining, it pales in comparison to David Mitchell's Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens. Though Mitchell's 2023 book covers the period from Romano-Britain through to the death of Elizabeth I, and so Higson is not technically treading the same ground, Unruly is both more detailed and much funnier.

On a final note, Higson is a self-confessed Baby Boomer who grew up and was schooled in the 1960s and 70s - indeed, the title of the book is a reference to the rhyme he and his school fellows learned to remember the order of the monarchs. Consequently, some of the language he uses to talk about mental health is dated and doesn't sit well with this millennial reader at least. Now that we know that George III likely suffered from bipolar disorder, a potentially debilitating mental health condition, it seems cavalier and in poor taste to repeatedly refer to him as 'mad'. I know this is the language of the time, and that Higson is playing it for laughs, but I really do feel that when we know better we should do better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Carina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fair few times now I have read a non-fiction, history based, book and said "I wasn't taught that in school". This was an impulse purchase this last weekend, and whilst I am not sure I'd read it a LOT, I learnt a lot from it - but also remembered parts of 'UK' history that I had forgotten about - such as the Short Parliament.

It does make me wonder just WHAT I was taught in history class leading up to GCSE. I took history for 5 years, the last two were GCSE and I took Modern World History so WW1, WW2 and the Cold War. The 3 years prior to that though should have been everything from 1066 to 1914 (give or take). I know we covered off the Norman invasion... we definitely talked about the War of the Roses but I remember more focus on Henry VIII than anything else, and from the names of the Parliaments I recall we did cover off the Civil War too. But I know for a FACT I never knew about Anna Gloria, or William & Mary - mainly because I clearly recall the history teacher saying Elizabeth II was only our fourth female monarch!

I'm not sure how well this book would work for younger people learning their UK history - the tone used in places can be... interesting. At times the author feels very chummy like "oh what a class act were THEY" kind of thing, then at others they almost feel like they are trying too hard - mainly when they make 'woke' comments, honestly I cringed when they used that word in their asides. Some of the references as well won't necessarily work that well either, it all depends what happens in the next few years I suspect.

But I enjoyed reading this, it's one of the quickest I have read a denser history book (even if it is described as being 'epically short').

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee is an interesting romp through the history of England’s monarchs who ruled from 1066 to the present day. Their many failings and a few successes are all explained in an informative book which definitely makes history come alive. Whilst I was familiar with the rhyme on which the book is based it’s not something I ever learned at school and my party piece is to be able to recite the monarchs from William the Conqueror, through to Charles III, without the need to rely upon the Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee rhyme 🤣

This is one of those fascinating history books which doesn’t take itself too seriously and yet serves up a plethora of facts in an easily digested manner. The quirky illustrations by Jim Moir add an extra dimension and the rather serious faces of the monarchs on the cover of the book would certainly have me reaching for a copy in a book shop in order to have a closer look. The British monarchy is not renown for its fun factor and yet, such is the lure of the writing, that, on occasions, I found myself laughing out loud. It’s worth mentioning that the author has an engaging podcast about Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee which is available from wherever you get your podcasts and the historical content ties in nicely with the book.

Overall this is a great read and a useful aide memoir if you want to check up on a few facts about a monarch or two, or just to dip into and out of at whim and discover more about those monarchs who, for good or ill, have shaped our history. Short and snappy chapters help to make the history of our Kings and Queens easily readable.

[Rachel N · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the success of Unruly by David Mitchell, which covered the monarchy in England from its earliest days until Elizabeth I, there was an obvious space for a book which covered the topic until the present day and this is the book to do it. Charlie Higson has hosted a podcast, also named Willy Willy Harry Stee (based on a rhyme that used to be taught in schools to remember the names of the monarchs in order), for the last two years and I’ve long been a fan so I was pleased to see this was being released and wasn’t disappointed.

Higson makes no claim to having done original research himself but, as he says, he has talked to a LOT of people who have through the podcast and the result is a fast paced telling of England’s royal history from the Norman Conquest right up to Charles III. The author is best known for his comedy writing and that’s reflected in the text which is often very funny but never at the expense of the history. Each King gets a section and their reign and the context of what was happening around them is very informative and well told.

There is also the added bonus of illustrations by Jim Moir, better known as Vic Reeves but now a very successful artist, and his cartoons are brilliant (my personal favourite was Richard II meeting Wat Tyler). All in all it’s a fantastic read, perfect for anyone looking for an engaging introduction to the subject (and the podcast is well worth a listen too).

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review. This has been added to Waterstones and Goodreads and will be put on Amazon on publication day.

[Niamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very kindly given an e-arc of this book via Netgalley

If you read and enjoyed David Mitchell's 'Unruly', but were sad that he stopped at Elizabeth I, this is the perfect remedy for that sadness. With lots of classical British humour and wit, the authors take a wry look back at the Kings and Queens through the guise of the rhyme that apparently schoolchildren were taught (mine came in the form of the Horrible Histories song, but I think that might just be a generational thing). It's basically making history a little funnier (and lots of it is pretty funny) and more palatable, considering there were so many kings and queens and so many of them with the same name. If you read a lot of books about the British monarchy, I think you'll still learn something new from this book, as the authors weave a blend of personal and political about the monarchs throughout, making it particularly successful. All in all, a fun piece of history reading to entertain those interested.

'Willie Willie Harry Stee' is available now.

[Charlotte reads history · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever wished your history lessons were a bit more Monty Python than monotone?

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee was an engaging and accessible romp through the royal history of England and Great Britain. Higson makes his way through kings and queens in his irreverent and comedic style, which makes the book entertaining and genuinely informative. It definitely helped fill the gaps in my own knowledge.

Higson is clear that he wants to hark back to his own traditional schooling in terms of style and delivery. I felt that the consistent ribbing of ‘wokery’ and revisionist history got a bit boring - a downright refusal to consider some monarchs might have been gay just seemed a bit of a strange thing to fix upon. Some of the language choices around mental ill health were also flippant - no doubt I am one of the woke snowflakes who annoy him.

Overall it was a fun read and I’m glad I read it. I got the distinct feeling I was not the target audience. Maybe I’ll buy it for my dad.

Thank you to @harpercollinsuk and the author for a #gifted advanced copy of the book, which is out now!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee,
Harry, Dick, John, Harry three;
One two three Neds, Richard two,
Harrys four, five, six, then who?
Edwards four, five, Dick the bad,
Harrys Twain, Ned six (the lad);
Mary, Bessie, James you ken,
Then Charlie, Charlie, James again;
Will and Mary, Anna Gloria,
Georges four, Will four, Victoria;
Edward seven, George and Ted,
George the sixth, now Liz instead.


This rhyme has been used by countless school children to learn the order of the monarchs of Britain and more recently has been turned into a song in Horrible Histories. Now, Charlie Higson has used the rhyme as the basis for a quick journey through the British monarchy, providing an irreverent yet informative take on each of the kings and queens.

I have always been interested in the history of the British monarchy and while I have some decent knowledge of certain eras, there are some where I admit to not knowing a great deal. I loved the format of this book with each chapter providing a brief overview of all of the key events in the reigns of each monarch – some well known and other not so. I do feel that I know a lot more now.

I listened to the audiobook of Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee which was narrated by the author, Charlie Higson, His humour really shone through and made it a great listening experience. The only downside of the audiobook is that I did not have the pleasure of seeing the illustrations which have been drawn by Jim Moir.

If you have an interest in British history, then I can recommend this book highly.

[Neil M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written, clear and bitesize record of the monarchy- funny in parts, very interesting in others. By the very nature of there being so many different personalities and eras involved I found myself more interested in some parts than others - Edward IV a surprisingly good chapter, Richard III always interesting, several interchangeable feeling Georges less so - but I think that's perfect as you can dip in and out of the book and then research more on those you found intriguing.

One caveat I'd add is that out of the two similar books, I preferred Unruly by David Mitchell - it's just funnier - but I still enjoyed this a lot.

[Kerry Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read this book.
An amusing look at the many Kings and Queens of Britain.

This was a really interesting and at times funny look at the various monarchs to rule. Each one has a section about them. Some longer than others of course. It does take a bit of following as many of the names are similar. I liked the drawings dotted through the book and the family trees which helped make sense of family lines. I did find King George 6's reign a tough and at at times sad read due to the war. This book shows the good, bad and even the ugly but it gives more personality to many of them who were less well known. A fun historic book.

[Tabatha Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say to never judge a book by its cover. Well this books cover was as wonderful as the book inside. The fore edge had Jim Moir (AKA Vic Reeves) illustrations and the top and bottom edge were in red. A lot of thought had clearly gone into producing this book.

Inside the writing was quick and witty, with the illustrations continuing throughout. I couldn’t put this book down as it was a joy to read. A must read and one to keep

[Stephen Robert Kuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable short history of the Kings and Queens of England. In part, this book is very funny and focuses on the main points of British royal history. The book is family friendly and is the perfect book to introduce a young reader or would be historian to a history of British monarchy.
This book, I would definitely read again and recommend.

[Emma Ferrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable, digestable history of British monarchs. I'll admit I probably can't remember a lot of the facts but I think that's much more to do with how many people all have the same names so I can't remember who did what, but it was really entertaining and I would love to read more from this author, especially audiobooks narrated by the author.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who will be the next comedian to write a basic history book? And why was it felt we needed another?

Didn’t learn much apart from the fact that I didn’t realise that the aristocracy were often named after where they were born e.g. John of Gaunt, hence Henry Bolingbroke. I’d always wondered why he was named that.

[Gary Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

History written to be read and not head scratching, it’s like speed dating for British history.

Charlie makes it funny, tells it in a very humorous way and each chapter is easy to read.

Do I feel I have a better understanding of our mongrel history, yes- could it be my specialist subject on MM probably not.

Very enjoyable, informative and entertaining.

[Dancall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite having both O and A level history from a British school, I know so little about British history. This book has been a wonderful way of educating myself, with Charlie Higson combining great storytelling gifts with modern context (for example Henry VIII was a bit like Donald Trump, and Oliver Cromwell was a bit like Nigel Farage). The audiobook is a treat!

[Rebecca Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book knowing little of the history of our monarchy, which made this a fascinating read. The big takeaway however is that the British royal family have no imagination when it comes to naming their children!